Intro to system of Islam : 1.1 Islam as a Way of Life
Islam is the ultimate and final blueprint for life, sent down by Allah (swt) to Muhammad (saw), the last and final messenger for the whole of mankind. Thus, the only way of life ordained for humanity by the Creator of the universe is Islam. Allah (swt) says,
“If anyone desires a deen other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him, and in the hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost.” [TMQ 3:85]
“Oh you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.” [TMQ 3:102]
The Islamic ‘aqeedah is the creed of the Muslims, its basis being the understanding that Allah (swt) is the only God and Muhammad (saw) is the final messenger of Allah. It provides the answer to man’s greatest problem, i.e. what is the source and purpose of life, and it guides him to come to the realisation of what he should and should not believe in. As well, the Islamic ‘aqeedah is the driving energy from which the rules and laws to govern lifes affairs emanate. The Islamic belief is not to be viewed as a set of abstract, theoretical rules and regulations which have no bearing in life. Rather, the correct way of understanding the Islamic belief is as a creed which must be believed in and whose rules and laws must be implemented in lifes affairs.
Islam, as well as being the final solution for mankind’s greatest problem, has given comprehensive guidance for human beings to live their lives. The Creator has revealed a code of life for mankind to live by, and He has not left us in the dark without guidance and direction. Unless mankind applies this, he is left to the whims and desires of his own weak and fallible mind to govern his affairs.
The mind is what differentiates human beings from all other creations, be they from dead matter, or living plants or animals. The whole universe, encompassing all of these, runs on a perfect order and balance – think of the water cycle, the planetary orbits, the process of photosynthesis in plants, or the complex structures of animal societies – these are just some examples of this order. But it is amongst this harmony that we see a stark contrast; chaos and calamity in the world around us. This includes social degradation, wars and disputes, economic exploitation, crime and poverty – the list is as ugly as it is long. In all of these cases, we can see that it is only in the areas where man has applied his own mind to solving lifes problems that such disorder arises.
In fact, these problems arise precisely as a result of mankind neglecting the Islamic way of life and using his own mind to decide how to run his affairs. If indeed, the mind was capable of producing the same organisation as we see in the universe, why is the ‘human’ world in such a mess?
In reality, only the power that gave the laws which proffer perfection to the processes of nature can achieve the same result in the affairs of mankind. The Islamic way of life means precisely that. It is the law of the Creator of the universe, Allah (swt), for human beings – a mercy to mankind.
The divine law (hukm shari‘i) can be defined as the speech of the legislator Allah (swt), related to the actions of the people. And Allah (swt) has revealed the divine law in such a way that it is comprehensive, detailed and perfect. Allah (swt) says,
“This day I have perfected your deen, bestowed My favour upon you and chosen for you al-Islam as your deen.” [TMQ 5:3]
Published in Intro to system of Islam